Frank was driving Lubor''s luxury sedan, and the surprise of finding out that Silverbell remembered what had happened at Sage Lake Sect left him utterly embarrassed.


    Silverbell remained silent as she rode shotgun, smiling faintly and nonchntly as she twirled her hair around her finger.


    "I know you love Helen and Vicky-I can see that much," she said softly. "That''s why I have no intention of getting involved from the start. I''ve also tried to keep myself preupied with Martial Alliance business so that I don''t have time for silly thoughts, but every time I see you..."


    She trailed off, lowering her head as she murmured, "My mind would always be a mess, even after I painstakinglyposed myself.


    "But don''t worry, Frank. I''ll do my best to stay away, so you don''t have to worry, but you must be more careful from now on.


    "The powers that be in Draconia exist in a convoluted mess, and a single mistake leads to hell. Even if you''re strong enough, there''s just too many of them..."


    Frank listened as Silverbell continued at length about anything and everything, feeling a mess of emotions.


    She was younger than her, but she showed more maturity and experience in the face of crisis.


    Reality must have done a serious number of things for her to really understand the game, especially since she was now the chief of the Martial Alliance.


    And the thought left Frank feeling exceedingly guilty.


    Cutting Silverbell short right then, he said, "You can keep the spiritron vein. You don''t have to give it to me."


    Silverbell did a double take and frowned. "But I went through great lengths to keep it. It''s all... it''s all for..."


    Trailing off, she sighed and stared at the little piece of bone she hung on the rearview mirror as she kept her thoughts to herself.


    It was all for Frank''s sake that she kept the spiritron vein. She knew he always lived burdened by his own rage, his vow to avenge his mother, as well as the desire to find out what happened to Mystic Sky Sect. But how was he going to do that without power?


    And the spiritron vein was the best path to power...


    On the other hand, while Frank had no idea what Silverbelll was thinking, he knew what she had in mind.


    He also remembered what Fenton told him over the phone: "Everything Silverbell does is for your sake. Don''t let her down now."


    "Don''t let her down..."


    Frank thought about it before looking up with a smile. "I''ve made up my mind, Silverbell."


    "Eh?" Silverbell curled up in her seat, hugging her fair legs while looking at Frank in uncertainty.


    "I won''t take the spiritron vein," Frank said just then.


    Silverbell immediately looked


    flustered just then, but Frank held up a hand to stop her, smiling. "You almost died for it, and I''ve done


    nothing to deserve it. And don''t


    think you need to improve yourself


    as the chief of the Martial Alliance too?"


    Frank turned his eyes back on the road as they arrived at Norsedam, still smiling.


    "When I get back, I''ll have Lanecorp form an alliance with the Martial Alliance..."


    Pausing, he then chuckled, "And if


    you don''t mind, Silverbell, I will


    formally announce that our


    engagement is still in effect."


    vel


    "What..."


    Silverbell was left gaping, at a loss for words. "Are you serious...?"


    "Hah! I''m not some irresponsible scumbag." Frank snorted, his cheeks flushing. "I did it, and I''ll admit to it."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Silverbell certainly knew what Frank


    was referring to, and she blushed as


    she lowered her head, giggling blissfully. "But what if Helen and Vicky had something to say about that?" en swnovels


    "Huh..." Frank scratched his head awkwardly.